And just like that, in 11 days, the Woodbine backstretch will be open for those who wish to ship their horses in for the 2026 racing season, set to begin sometime in late April. For many, it will be a relief getting back to work, but in the meantime, Canadian horsepeople and horses continue to win in the south and breeders are welcoming new faces. And this weekend, there are numerous locals in action.
The training duo of STEVE OWENS AND TARA NEIGEL sent out SPLIT STRIKE to win at Gulfstream Park on February 6 in a $25,000 claiming 5 furlong turf dash. The five-year-old by Goldencents, owned by Darrell Jones of British Columbia, won in 56.68 for a career best 80 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form.
JULIE MATHES, Fort Erie’s perennial leading trainer, won her first race of 2026 and her 401st career win when Ontario-bred SWERVIN MERVYN won at Charles Town on Thursday evening. The gelding broke his maiden for owner Bruno Schickedanz and is a son of Rookie Sensation bred by Martha Shires.
STEVEN CHIRCOP had an impressive maiden winner on Thursday with Chris Nolan’s homebred colt BAHAMA VILLAGE, who won his second career race by 7 1/2 lengths in a 6 1/2 furlong dash. Bahama Village is a well-bred Kentucky-bred by Maclean’s Music from multiple graded stakes winner Summer Applause, by Harlan’s Holiday.
AL AND BILL ULWELLING, among Canada’s leading owners, won their 500th race (not including partnerships) on Thursday at Fair Grounds racecourse and fittingly, it came with an Ontario-bred.
FABER, a four-year-old by Improbable – Disobedient by Into Mischief, won an allowance race on the Fair Grounds turf on February 12, his second career win. Faber competed in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown in 2025 and was sixth in the King’s Plate and third in both the Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes. Bred by Anderson Farms and 552727 Ontario Ltd. Faber is the first foal of winner Disobedient, whose second foal, the three-year-old filly Luv Your Neighbor, competes in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14.
***
Coming up this weekend, champion two-year-old of 2023, MY BOY PRINCE, is the 3-to-1 favourite for the $100,000 TURF DASH at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 14. The grey son of Cairo Prince, bred in Ontario by Murray Smith, had a huge 2026 opener when third, beaten just a neck, in the $155,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint. My Boy Prince has earned over $1.2 million.
A victory in the Turf Dash would be an ideal birthday present for his trainer, Mark Casse.
More News
